Bible Diary - Hebrews 5:1-10
June 29, 2008
I may struggle a bit with the idea of needing a high priest, but the first readers of this letter to the Hebrews were quite familiar with the high priestly function. Since the days of the Aaronic priesthood, they could look to the high priest to stand before God in their stead, even though they knew he was obliged to make sin offerings for himself as well.
5:1 For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 5:2 He is able to deal compassionately with those who are ignorant and erring, since he also is subject to weakness, 5:3 and for this reason he is obligated to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. 5:4 And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was. 5:5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him, “You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,” 5:6 as also in another place God says, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” 5:7 During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion. 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered. 5:9 And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 5:10 and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
How much better it is, then, to have a high priest who is a priest forever - knowing temptation, yet sinless? This calms my struggles. Like all humans from ancient days until now, I crave eternal verities, truths that can solidly anchor my life in eternity. The older I get the more important this becomes.
Dave
-sdg-
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